All posts tagged Democratic National Convention

The rock band R.E.M. posted a note on its website criticizing Fox News for using its 1991 hit “Losing My Religion,” but the network responded that it had the right to use the song.

The band’s statement reads: “R.E.M.’s ‘Losing My Religion’ was used in the Fox News coverage of the Democratic National Convention last night. R.E.M. today, through its music publisher, Warner-Tamerlane Music, demanded that Fox News cease and desist from continuing its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song. Michael Stipe said, ‘We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there.’”

A Fox News spokesperson says that the network had the legal right to use the song. She also said that the song was used during the show “Fox & Friends” on Thursday morning and not on Wednesday night during the coverage of the 2012 Democratic National Convention as alleged by R.E.M. on its website. Read More »

Hollywood stars turned out in force for the last night of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. In advance of President Barack Obama’s speech, actresses Eva Longoria, Scarlett Johansson and Kerry Washington all addressed the crowd and the public watching at home. Did their combined star power outshine Clint Eastwood’s empty chair speech at the GOP convention? Watch the clips after the jump. Read More »

After delivering a much talked-about speech at the Democratic National Convention, First Lady Michelle Obama popped up on “Late Show with David Letterman” to deliver the Top Ten List. The most recent appearance by FLOTUS marks her fourth time on the late night comedy show, according to the Associated Press. Her topic: “Top Ten Reasons to Watch the Democratic National Convention.” According to the First Lady, the number one reason to watch is, “At long last, I’ll reveal who I’m voting for.”

After “Yes, We Can” what do you do for an encore? With the Democratic National Convention pushing forward in Charlotte, N.C., “The Daily Show” offered up some ideas on what President Barack Obama could use for his new campaign slogan.

Actor Kal Penn managed to get a trending topic out of his speech at the Democratic National Convention. The “Harold and Kumar” star, who left the TV show “House” to work as President Obama’s liaison to young Americans, talked about his time serving in government. Penn said “I’ve worked on a lot of fun movies but my favorite job was having a boss who gave the order to take out Bin Laden and who’s cool with all of us getting gay married. So thank you invisible man in the chair for that.” (A reference to Clint Eastwood’s speech to a empty chair at the Republican National Convention.) At the end of his speech, Penn quipped “before I close, and as I wonder which Twitter hashtags you’ll start using when I’m done talking–#sexyface–I ask all of you young people to join me. You don’t even have to put pants on. Go to commit.barackobama.com and register right there.” Read More »

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.